SHOCKED Manchester City chairman Francis Lee yesterday revealed he had been frying for a week to persuade Steve Coppell to stay at Maine Road before the under pressure manager announced his resignation.

His failure to change Coppell's mind means City have lost yet another high profile manager.

A disconsolate Lee said: "I have been speaking to Steve about his problem for a week. I thought he might have changed his mind, but he's adamant he wants to retire from the job here at Manchester City."

However, a bitterly disappointed Lee cast doubt over whether any person could be weighed down by the pressures of a job after just over a month in charge. He added: "I don't think a job can overwhelm anyone in 30 days, but Steve's been advised to resign on medical grounds."

Former Bolton and Coventry manager Phil Neal, who quit Cardiff to become Coppell's number two, will now take over on a caretaker basis and could be handed the post permanently if he can raise the club's fortunes.

A drawn looking Coppell confessed that resigning after just 33 days in charge of the crisis club was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

He admitted: "When I took the job as manager of Manchester City I was proud, excited and delighted, I was also determined to be a success and to return the club to its rightful place in the Premiership.

"I am not ashamed to admit that I have suffered for some time from the huge pressure I have imposed upon myself and since my appointment this has completely overwhelmed me to such an extent that I cannot function in the job the way I would like to.

"As the situation is affecting my well being, I have asked Francis Lee to relieve me of my obligation to manage the club on medical advice."